HEAD OF DELEGATION: PACE REPORT ON AZERBAIJAN CONTAINS NAGORNO-KARABAKH ISSUE
Trend
Dec 18 2012
Azerbaijan
The January session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE) will approve the report of the co-rapporteurs of the
Monitoring Committee on commitments undertaken by Azerbaijan, the head
of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, Samad Seyidov said on Tuesday.
“We believe this report will be seriously discussed. Most important
is the fact that for the first time, the report contains large and
detailed section on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The section on Nagorno
Karabakh is very important to us. It is indicated in the document that
military aggression was committed against Azerbaijan. The addition
of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue to the agenda of the Council of Europe
is an important factor, especially taking into consideration the fact
that the document is being prepared not by Azerbaijan, but rather by
European co-rapporteurs. This fact doubles its value. We will not be
surprised by Armenian attempts to create difficulties surrounding and
provide commentary on the report. Armenians will attempt to discredit
the report due to the fact that it reflects the predatory, criminal
policy of Armenia”, said Seyidov.
According to him, the report also contains criticism of the Azerbaijani
government.
“We have repeatedly stated that we are not afraid of criticism. We
listen carefully to it, and if it is constructive and reflects reality,
we work with it. What we are against? We are against International
organizations using the above-mentioned criticism to exert pressure on
Azerbaijan. We are ready to respond to such pressures, “- said Seyidov.
According to him, an example of such pressure is PACE rapporteur
Christoph Strasser’s report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan.
“This is full of lies and slander, the report doesn’t reflect reality
and is being regarded as an attempt against Azerbaijan’s integration
into the CE. There are attempts to present Strasser’s position as a
position of the international organization. This is not the case. Our
relations are developing in a constructive and normal way. Azerbaijan
is willing to work off of constructive criticism “- Seyidov added.
Conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when
Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed
forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France and the U.S. –
are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council’s four
resolutions on the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding
regions.